“Surelie, this iugling and false plaie littele became either an honest man called to such honor, or a noble man put in so great trust. Had you lost but a cow or a horsse of your owne, two hundred of your reteiners would haue come at your whistle to rescue the preie from the vttermost edge of Vlster: all the Irish in Ireland must haue giuen you the way. But in pursuing so néedfull a matter as this was, mercifull God, how nice, how dangerous, how waieward haue you béene? One while he is from home, another while he kéepeth home, sometimes fled, sometimes in the borders, where you dare not venture. I wish my lord, there be shrewd bugs in the borders for the earle of Kildare to feare: the earle nay the king of Kildare; for when you are disposed, you reigne more like than rule in the land: where you are malicious, the truest subiects stand for Irish enimies: where you are pleased, the Irish foe standeth for a iust subiect: hearts & hands lives & lands are all at your courtesie: who fauneth not thereon cannot rest within your smell, and your smell is so ranke that you trake them out at pleasure.” ¶ Whilest the cardinall was speaking, the earle chafed and changed colour, and at last brake out, and interrupted him thus.

“My lord chancellor, I beséech you pardon me, I am short witted, and you I perceiue Kildare interupteth the cardinals tale. intend a long tale: if you procéed in this order, halfe my purgation will be lost for lacke of carriage. I haue no schoole trickes, nor art of memorie: except you heare me while I remember your words, your second processe will hammer out the former.” The lords associat, who for the most part tenderlie loued him, and knew the cardinall The lords tender Kildare. his manner of tawnts solothsome, as wherewith they were inured manie yeares ago, humblie besought his grace to charge him directlie with particulars, and to dwell in some one matter, vntill it were examined throughlie. “That granted, it is good reason, He answereth the cardinals obiection. (quoth the earle) that your grace beare the mouth of this boord: but my lord, those mouths that put these things into your mouth, are verie wide mouths, such in déed as haue gaped long for my wracke; and now at length, for want of better stuffe, are faine to fill their mouths with smoke. What my cousine Desmond hath compassed, as I know not, so I beshrew his naked heart for holding out so long. If he can be taken by mine agents that presentlie wait for him, then haue mine aduersaries bewraied their malice; and this heape of heinous words shall resemble a scarecrow, or a man of straw that séemeth at a blush to carrie some proportion, but when it is felt and peised, discouereth a vanitie, seruing onelie to feare crowes: and I verelie trust, your honors shall sée the proofe by the thing it selfe, within these few dales. But go to: suppose he neuer be had? What is Kildare to blame for it, more than my good brother of Ossorie, who notwithstanding his high promises, hauing also the kings power, is yet content to bring him in at leasure? Can not the erle of Desmond shift but I must be of counsell? Cannot he hide him except I winke? If he be close am I his mate? If he be freended am I a traitor? This is a doubtie kind of accusation, which they vrge against me, wherein they are stabled and mired at my first deniall. You would not sée him (saie they.) Who made them so familiar with mine eiesight? Or when was the erle within my view? Or who stood by when I let him slip? Or where are the tokens of my wilfull hudwinke? But you sent him word to beware of you. Who was the messenger? Where are the letters? Conuince my negatiues, see how loose this idle geare hangeth togither. Desmond is not taken. Well, you are in fault. Whie? Because you are. Who prooueth it? No bodie. What coniectures? So it seemeth. To whome? To your enimies. Who told it them? They will sweare it. What other ground? None. Will they sweare it my lord? Whie then of like they know it, either they haue mine hand to shew, or can bring foorth the messenger, or were present at a conference, or priuie to Desmond, or some bodie bewraied it to them, or they themselues were my carriers or vicegerents therein: which of these parts will they choose, for I know them too well. To reckon my selfe conuict by their bare words or headlesse saiengs, or frantike othes, were but mere mockerie. My letter were soone read, were any such writing extant, my seruants & fréends are readie to be sifted: of my cousine of Desmond they may lie lowdly, since no man here can well contrarie them. Touching my selfe, I neuer noted in them much wit, or so fast faith, that I would haue gaged on their silence the life of a good hound, much lesse mine owne. I doubt not, may it like your honors to appose them, how they came to the knowledge of those matters, which they are so readie to depose: but you shall find their toongs chained to another man his trencher, and as it were knights of the post, suborned to saie, sweare and stare the vttermost they can, as those that passe not what they saie, nor with what face they saie it, so they saie no truth. But of another side it gréeueth me that your good grace whom I take to be wise and sharpe, and who of your blessed disposition wisheth me well, should be so farre gone in crediting these corrupt informers that abuse the ignorance of your state and countrie to my perill. Little know you (my lord) how necessarie it is, not onelie for the gouernor, but also for euerie noble man in Ireland to hamper his vnciuil neighbors at discretion, wherein if they waited for processe of law, and had not those liues and lands you speake of within their reach, they might hap to lose their owne liues and lands without law. You heare of a case as it were in a dreame, and féele not the smart that vexeth vs. In England there is not a meane subiect that dare extend his hand to fillip a péere of the realme. In Ireland except the lord haue cunning to his In what case stand the noble men of Ireland with rebels. strength, and strength to saue his crowne, and sufficient authoritie to take théeues & varlets when they stir, he shall find them swarme so fast, that it will be too late to call for iustice. If you will haue our seruice take effect, you must not tie vs alwaies to these iudiciall procéedings, wherewith your realme (thanked be God) is inured. Touching my kingdome, I know not what your lordship should meane thereby. If your grace imagine that a kingdome consisteth in seruing God, in obeieng the prince, in gouerning with loue the common-wealth, in shouldering subiects, in suppressing rebels, in executing iustice, in brideling blind affections, I would be willing to be inuested with so vertuous and roiall a name. But if therefore you terme me a king, in that you are persuaded that I repine at the gouernment of my souereigne, or winke at malefactors, or oppresse ciuill liuers, I vtterlie disclame in that odious terme, marueling greatlie that one of your grace his profound wisedome, would séeme to appropriat so sacred a name to so wicked a thing. But howsoeuer it be (my lord) I would you and I had changed kingdoms but for one moneth, I would trust to gather vp more crummes in that space, than twise the reuenues of my poore earledome: but you are well and warme, and so hold you, and vpbraid not me with such an odious terme. I slumber in an hard cabin, when you sléepe in a soft bed of downe: I serue vnder the king his cope of heauen, when you are serued vnder a canopie: I drinke water out of my skull, when you drinke wine out of golden cups: my coursor is trained to the field, when your genet is taught to amble: when you are begraced and belorded, & crouched and knéeled vnto, then find I small grace with our Irish borderers, except I cut them off by the knees.”

At these girds the councell would haue smiled, if they durst: but ech man bit his lip, & held his countenance, for howsoeuer some of them leaned to the erle of The cardinall not beloued. Ossorie, they all hated the cardinall, who perceiuing that Kildare was no babe, rose in a fume from the councell table, committed the erle, & deferred the matter till The duke of Norffolke bound for Kildare. more direct probations came out of Ireland. The duke of Norffolke, who was late lieutenant in Ireland, perceining the cardinall to be sore bent against the nobleman, rather for the deadlie hatred he bare his house, than for anie great matter he had wherewith to charge his person, stept to the king, and craued Kildare to be his prisoner, offering to be bound for his foorth comming, ouer and aboue all his lands, bodie for bodie. Wherevpon, to the cardinall his great griefe, the prisoner was bailed, and honorablie by the duke interteined. During his abode in the duke his house, Oneale and Oconor, and all their fréends and alies, watching their time to 1528 The Irish in rebellion. annoie the pale, made open insurrection against the earle of Ossorie then lord deputie of Ireland, insomuch that the noble man mistrusting the ficklenesse of Desmond on the one side, & the force of these new start vp rebels on the other side, stood halfe amazed, as it were betwéene fire & water. For remedie whereof, letters thicke and thréefold were addressed to the councell of England, purporting that all these late hurlie burlies were of purpose raised by the meanes of Kildare, to Kildare afresh impeached. the blemishing and staining of his brother Ossorie his gouernment. And to put the matter out of doubt, it was further added, that Kildare commandéd his daughter Elice Fitzgirald, wife to the baron of Slane, to excite in his name the aforesaid traitors to this open rebellion.

The cardinall herevpon caused Kildare to be examined before the councell, where he pressed him so déepelie with this late disloialtie, that the presumption being (as the cardinall did force it) vehement, the treason odious, the king suspicious, the enimie eger, the fréends faint (which were sufficient grounds to ouerthrow an innocent The earle of Kildare committed. person) the earle was repriued to the tower. The nobleman betooke himselfe to God & the king, he was hartilie beloued of the lieutenant, pitied in all the court, and standing in so hard a case, altered little of his accustomed hue, comforted other noble men prisoners with him, dissembling his owne sorrow. On a night when the lieutenant and he for their disport were plaieng at slidegrote or shoofleboord, suddenlie A mandatum to execute Kildare. commeth from the cardinall a mandatum to execute Kildare on the morrow. The earle marking the lieutenants deepe sigh: "By saint Bride lieutenant (quoth he) there is some mad game in that scroll; but fall how it will, this throw is for an huddle." When the woorst was told him: "Now I praie thee (quoth he) doo no more but learne assuredlie from the king his owne mouth, whether his highnesse be witting thereto or not?" Sore doubted the lieutenant to displease the cardinall: yet of verie pure loue to his fieend, he posteth to the king at midnight, and deliuered his errand: for at all houres of the night the lieutenant hath accesse to the prince vpon occasions. The king controlling the saucinesse of the priest (for those were his termes) deliuered to The cardinall his presumptuousness blamed of the king. the lieutenant his signet in token of countermand, which when the cardinall had seene, he began to breath out vnseasoned language, which the lieutenant was loth to heare, & so left him pattring & chanting the diuell his Pater noster. Thus brake vp the storme for that time, & the next yeare Woolseie was cast out of fauour, and within few 1529 Sir William Skeffington deputie of Ireland. yeares sir William Skeffington was sent ouer lord deputie, and brought with him the erle pardoned and rid from all his troubles.

When it was bruted, that Skeffington, the earle of Kildare, and Edward Staples bishop of Edward Staples bishop of Meth. Methlanded néere Dublin, the maior and citizens met him with a solemne procession on saint Maire abbeis gréene, where maister Thomas Fitzsimons recorder of Dublin made Thomas Fitzsimons. a pithie oration to congratulate the gouernor and the earle his prosperous arriuall, to whome Skeffington shaped an answere in this wise: "Maister maior and maister recorder, Skeffington his answere. you haue at length this noble man here present, for whom you sore longed, whilest he was absent. And after manie stormes by him susteined, he hath now to the comfort of his fréends, to the confusion of his foes, subdued violence with patience, iniuries with sufferance, and malice with obedience: and such butchers as of He glanseth at the cardinall who was taken to be a butcher his sonne. hatred thirsted after his bloud, are now taken for outcast mastiues, littered in currish bloud. How well my master the king hath beene of his gratious inclination affected to the earle of Kildare (his backe fréend, being by his iust desert from his malestie wéeded) the credit wherein this noble man at this present abideth, manifestlie declareth. Wherefore it resteth, that you thanke God and the king for his safe arriuall. As for his welcome, maister recorder his courteous discourse, your great assemblies, your chéerefull countenances, your willing meetings, your solemne processions doo so far shew it, as you minister me occasion on his lordship his behalfe, rather to thanke you for your courtesie, than to exhort you to anie further ceremonie."

Hauing ended his oration, they rode all into the citie, where shortlie after the earle of Ossorie surrendred the sword to sir William Skeffington. During the time that Kildare was in England, the sept of the Tooles making his absence their Kildare inuadeth the Tooles. haruest, ceased not to molest and spoile his tenants, and therefore the erle meaning not to wrap vp so lightlie their manifold iniuries, was determined presenthe vpou his erriuall to crie them quittance: to the spéedinesse of which seruice he requested the aid of the citizens of Dublin: & expecting in Christs church their answere touching this motion, the maior & his brethren promised to assist him with two hundred archers. The late come bishop of Meth being then present, mooued question, whether the citizens were pardoned for crowning Lambert contrarie to Meth his question. their dutie of allegiance; and if they were not pardoned, he thought they might aduantage the king thereby. Whereat one of their sagest and expertest aldermen, Iohn Fitzsimons answereth Meth. named Iohn Fitzsimons, stept foorth and said: "My lord of Meth, may I be so bold as to craue what countrieman you are?" "Marie sir (quoth the bishop) I would you should know it, I am a gentleman and an Englishman." "My lord (quoth Fitzsimons) my meaning is to learne, in what shire of England you were borne?" "In Lincolnshire good sir" (quoth Staples.) "Whie then my lord (quoth Fitzsimons) we are no traitors, because it was the earle of Lincolne and the lord Louell that crowned him: and therefore if you be a gentleman of Lincolnshire, sée that you be pardoned, for God and our king be thanked we haue néed of none." At this answer Meth was set, and such as were present were forced to smile, to sée what a round fall he caught in his owne turne.

In the second yeare of Skeffington his gouernement, it happened that one Henrie Henrie White raised an vprore in Dublin. White, seruant to Benet a merchant of Dublin, was pitching of a cart of haie in the high street; and hauing offered boies plaie to passengers that walked to and fro, he let a bottle of his haie fall on a souldiors bonet, as he passed by his cart. The souldior taking this knauish knacke in dudgeon, hurled his dagger at him, and hauing narrowlie mist the princocks, he sticked it in a post not farre off. White leapt downe from the cart, and thrust the souldior through the shoulder with his pike. Wherevpon there was a great vprore in the citie betwéene the souldiors and the apprentises, insomuch as Thomas Barbie being the maior, hauing the king his sword drawne, was hardlie Thomas Barbie maior. able to appease the fraie, in which diuerse were wounded, and none slaine. The lord deputie issued out of the castell, and came as farre as the pillorie, to whome the maior posted thorough the prease with the sword naked vnder his arme, & presented White that was the brewer of all this garboile to his lordship, whome the gouernour pardoned, White pardoned. as well for his courage in bickering as for his retchlesse simplicitie and pleasantnesse in telling the whole discourse. Whereby a man maie sée how manie bloudie quarels a bralling swashbuckler maie picke out of a bottle of haie, namelie when his braines are forebitten with a bottle of nappie ale.

About this time there was a great sturre raised in England, about the king his diuorse, who thinking it expedient in so fickle a world to haue a sure post in Ireland, made Kildare lord deputie, Cromer the primat of Armagh lord chancellor, Kildare lord deputie. Cromer. Butler. Skeffington offended with Kildare. and sir Iames Butler lord treasuror. Skeffington, supposing that he was put beside the cushin by the secret canuassing of Kildare his friends, conceiued therof a great gelousie, being therein the deeper drenched, bicause that Kildare hauing receiued the sword, would permit Skeffington, who was late gouernour, now like a meane priuat person, to danse attendance among other suters in his house at Dublin, named the Carbrie. Skeffington plaieng thus on the bit, shortlie after sailed into England, He saileth into England. 1532 A parlement summoned at Dublin. Vriell inuaded by Oneale. vpon whose departure the lord deputie summoned a parlement at Dublin, where there past an act against leasers of corne: also for the vniting and appropriation of the parsonage of Galtrim to the priorie of saint Peters by Trim. In the parlement time, Oneale on a sudden inuaded the countrie of Vriell, rifling and spoiling the king his subiects, at which time also was the earle of Ossorie greatlie vexed by the Giraldins, by reason of the old quarrels of either side afresh reuiued.

The next yeare, the lord deputie going against Ocarroll, was pitifullie hurt in Kildare hurt. the side with a gun, at the castell of Birre; so that he neuer after inioied his lims, nor deliuered his words in good plight, otherwise like inough to haue béene longer forborne in consideration of his manie noble qualities, great good seruices, and the state of those times. Straightwais complaints were addressed to the king of these enormities, and that in most heinous maner that could be deuised, boulting out his dooings Kildare accused. as it were to the last brake of sinister surmises, turning euerie priuat iniurie to be the king his quarrell, & making euerie puddings pricke as huge in shew as Samson his piller. Wherevpon Kildare was commanded by sharpe letters to repaire into Enland, He is sent for to England. leaning such a person for the furniture of that realme, and the gouernance of the land in his absence, for whose dooings he would answer. Being vpon the sight of this letter prepared to saile into England, he sat in councell at Dublin, and hauing sent for his sonne & heire the lord Thomas Fitzgirald (a yoong strippling of one and Thomas Fitzgirald. twentie yeares of age, borne in England, sonne to the lord Zouch his daughter, the earle of Kildare his first wife) in the hearing of the whole boord thus he spake.

The earle of Kildare his exhortation to his sonne the lord Thomas. “SONNE Thomas, I doubt not, but you know that my souereigne lord the king hath sent for me into England, and what shall betide me God knoweth, for I know not. But howsoeuer it falleth, both you and I know that I am well stept in yeares: and as I maie shortlie die, for that I am mortall, so I must in hast decease, bicause I am old. Wherefore insomuch as my winter is welneere ended, and the spring of your age now buddeth, my will is that you behaue your selfe so wiselie in these your gréene yeares, as that to the comfort of your friends you maie inioie the pleasure of summer, gleane and reape the fruits of your haruest, that with honour you maie grow to the catching of that hoarie winter, on which you sée me your father fast pricking. And wheras it pleaseth the king his maiestie, that vpon my departure here hense, I should substitute in my roome such one, for whose gouernement I would answer: albeit I know, that your yeares are tender, your wit not settled, your iudgement not fullie rectified, and therefore I might be with good cause reclamed from putting a naked sword in a yoong mans hand: yet notwithstanding, forsomuch as I am your father, and you my sonne, I am well assured to beare that stroke with you in stéering your ship, as that vpon anie information I maie command you as your father, and correct you as my sonne for the wrong handling of your helme.”

“There be here that sit at this boord, far more sufficient personages for so great charge than you are. But what then? If I should cast this burthen on their shoulders, it might be that hereafter they would be so farre with enuie carried, as they would percase hazzard the losse of one of their owne eies, to be assured that I should be depriued of both mine eies. But forsomuch as the case toucheth your skin as néere as mine, and in one respect nigher than mine, bicause (as I said before) I rest in the winter, and you in the spring of your yeares, and now I am resolued daie by daie to learne rather how to die in the feare of God, than to liue in the pompe of the world, I thinke you will not be so brainesicke, as to stab your selfe thorough the bodie, onelie to scarifie my skin with the point of your blade. Wherefore (my sonne) consider, that it is easie to raze, and hard to build, and in all your affaires be schooled by this boord, that for wisedome is able, and for the entier affection it beareth your house, will be found willing, to lesson you with sound and sage aduise. For albeit in authoritie you rule them, yet in councell they must rule you. My sonne, you know that my late maimes stifleth my talke: otherwise I would haue grated longer on this matter. For a good tale maie be twise told, and a sound aduise (eftsoones iterated) taketh the deeper impression in the attentiue hearer his mind. But although my fatherlie affection requireth my discourse to be longer, yet I trust your good inclination asketh it to be shorter; and vpon that assurance, here in the presence of this honourablie assemblie, I deliuer you this sword.” ¶ Thus he Kildare saileth into England. spake for his last farewell with trickling teares, and hauing ended, he stood, imbrased the councell, committed them to God, and immediatlie after he was imbarked.

But although with his graue exhortation the frosen hearts of his aduersaries for a His oration misconstrued. short spirt thawed, yet notwithstanding they turned soone after all this gaie Gloria patri vnto a further fetch; saieng that this was nothing else but to dazell their eies with some iugling knacke, to the end they should aduertise the king of his loiall spéeches: adding further, that he was too too euill that could not speake well. And to force the prepensed treasons they laied to his charge, with further surmises He is accused for taking the king his artillerie. they certified the councell of England, that the earle before his departure furnished his owne piles and forts with the king his artillerie and munition taken foorth of the castell of Dublin. The earle being examined vpon that article before the councell, although he answered that the few potguns and chambers he tooke from thense, were placed in his castell to strengthen the borders against the inrodes of the Irish enimie; and that if he intended anie treason, he was not so foolish, as to fortifie walles and stones, and to commit his naked bones into their hands: yet notwithstanding he deliuered his spéeches by reason of his palseie, in such staggering and mafling wise, that such of the councell as were not his friends, persuading the rest that he had sunke in his owne tale, by imputing his lisping and dragging answer rather to the gilt of conscience, than to the infirmitie of his late maime, had him committed, vntill Kildare committed. the king his pleasure were further knowne.

But before we wade anie further in this matter, for the better opening of the whole ground, it would be noted, that the earle of Kildare, among diuerse hidden aduersaries, had in these his later troubles foure principall enimies that were the Kildare his chiefe enimies. chiefe means & causes of his ouerthrow, as in those daies it was commonlie bruted. The first was Iohn Alen archhishop of Dublin, a gentleman of a good house, chapleine Iohn Alen archbishop of Dublin. to cardinall Wolseie, & after by the cardinall his means constituted archbishop of Dublin, a learned prelat, a good housholder, of the people indifferentlie beloued, and more would haue béene, had he not ouerbusied himselfe in supplanting the house of Kildare. And although it were knowne, that his first grudge towards the Giraldins procéeded from the great affection he bare his lord and master the cardinall, insomuch as he would not sticke, were he able, for the pleasuring of the one to vndoo the other; yet such occasions of greater hatred after insued (namelie for that he was displaced from being lord chancellor, & Cromer the primat of Armagh by Kildare his drifts setled in the office) as notwithstanding the cardinall his combe was cut in England, yet did he persist in pursuing his woonted malice toward that sée.

The second that was linked to this confederacie, was sir Iohn Alen knight, first Sir Iohn Alen knight. secretarie to this archbishop, after became maister of the rolles, lastlie lord chancellor. And although sir Iohn Alen were not of kin to the archbishop, but onelie of the name; yet notwithstanding the archbishop made so great reckoning of him, as well for his forecast in matters of weight, as for his faithfulnesse in affaires of trust, as whatsoeuer exploit were executed by the one, was foorthwith déemed to haue béene Thomas Canon. deuised by the other. The third of this crew was Thomas Canon, secretarie to Skeffington, who thinking to be reuenged on Kildare for putting his lord and master beside the cushin, as he surmised, was verie willing to haue an ore in that bote. The Robert Cowlie. fourth that was suspected to make the muster, was Robert Cowlie, first bailiffe in Dublin, after seruant to the ladie Margaret Fitzgirald, countesse of Ormond and Ossorie, lastlie master of the rolles in Ireland, and finallie he deceased at London.

This gentleman for his wisdome and policie was well estéemed of the ladie Margaret countesse of Ossorie, as one by whose aduise she was in all hir affaires directed. Wherevpon some suspicious persons were persuaded and brought in mind, that he was the sower of all the discord that rested betwéene the two brethren Kildare and Ossorie: as though he could not be rooted in the fauour of the one, but that he must haue professed open hatred vnto the other. These foure, as birds of one feather, were supposed to be open enimies to the house of Kildare, bearing that swaie in the commonwealth, as they were not occasioned (as they thought) either to craue fréendship of the Giraldines, or greatlie to feare their hatred and enimitie. There were beside them diuerse other secret vnderminers, who wrought so cunninglie vnder the thumbe, by holding with the hare, and running with the hound, as if Kildare had prospered, they were assured, their malice would not haue béene in manner suspected: but if he had béene in his affaires stabled, then their fine deuises for their further credit should haue beene apparented. Wherefore the heauing of his backe fréends not onelie surmised, but also manifested by Kildare, the lord Thomas being iustice or The lord Thomas inkindleth the Alens against him. vicedeputie in his fathers absence, fetcht both the Alens so roundlie ouer the hips, as well by secret drifts as open taunts, as they were the more egerlie spurd to compasse his confusion. For the lord iustice and the councell, with diuerse of the nobilitie, at a solemne banket discoursing of the anciencie of houses, and of their armes, sir Iohn Alen spake to the lord iustice these words.

"My lord, your house giueth the marmoset, whose propertie is to eat his owne The propertie of the marmoset. taile." Meaning thereby (as the lord Thomas supposed) that Kildare did vse to pill and poll his fréends, tenants & reteiners. These words were no sooner spoken, than the lord Thomas striking the ball to Alen againe, answered, as one that was somewhat slipper toonged, in this wise."You saie truth sir, indéed I heard some saie, that the marmoset eateth his owne taile. But although you haue béene fed by your taile, yet I would aduise you to beware, that your taile eat not you." Shortlie after this quipping gamegall, the lord iustice and the councell rode to Drogheda, where hauiug for the space of three or foure daies soiourned, it happened that the councellors awaited in the councell chamber the gouernour his comming, vntill it was hard vpon the stroke of twelue. The archbishop of Dublin rawlie digesting the vicedeputie his long absence, said: "My lords, is it not a prettie matter, that all we shall The archbishop his taunt. staie thus long for a boie?" As he vttered these speeches, the lord iustice vnluckilie was comming vp the staires, and at his entrie taking the words hot from the bishop his mouth, and iterating them verie coldlie, he said: "My lords, I am heartilie sorie, that you staied thus long for a boie." Whereat the prelat was appalled, to see how vnhappilie he was gald with his owne caltrop. These & the like cutting spéeches inkindled such coles in both their stomachs, as the flame could not anie longer The enimies conspire the ouerthrow of the Giraldins. The occasion of-Thomas Fitzgirald his rebellion. be smouldered, but at one clift or other must haue fumed. The enimies therefore hauing welnigh knedded the dough that should haue béene baked for the Giraldines bane, deuised that secret rumors should sprinkle to and fro, that the earle of Kildare his execution was intended in England; and that vpon his death the lord Thomas and all his bloud should haue beene apprehended in Ireland. As this false muttering flue abroad, it was holpen forward by Thomas Canon, and others of Skeffington his seruants, who sticked not to write to certeine of their fréends, as it were, verie secret letters, how that the earle of Kildare their maister his secret enimie (so they tooke him, bicause he got the gouernement ouer his head) was alreadie cut shorter, as his issue presentlie should be: and now they trusted to sée their maister in his gouernment, after which they sore longed, as for a preferment that would in short space aduantage them. Such a letter came vnto the hands of a simple priest, no perfect Englishmen, who for hast hurled it amongest other papers in the chimnies end of his chamber, meaning to peruse it better at more leisure. The same verie night, a gentleman reteining to the lord Thomas, the lord iustice or vicedeputie, as is before specified, tooke vp his lodging with the priest, and sought in the morning when he rose for some paper, to draw on his strait stockings; and as the deuill would, he hit vpon the letter, bare it awaie in the heele of his stocke, no earthlie thing misdéen:ing. At night againe he found the paper vnfretted, and musing thereat he began to pore on the writing, which notified the earle his death, and the apprehension of the lord Thomas. To horsse goeth he in all hast, brought the letter to Iames de la Iames de la Hide. Hide, who was principall councellor to the lord Thomas in all his dooings. De la Hide hauing scantlie ouerread the letter, making more hast than good spéed, posted to the lord Thomas, imparted him that letter, and withall putting fire to flax, before he diued to the bottome of this trecherie, he was contented to swim on the skum and froth thereof, as well by soothing vp the tenor of the letter, as by inciting the lord Thomas to open rebellion, cloking the odious name of treason with the zealous reuengement of his fathers wrongfull execution, and with the warie defense of his owne person.

The lord Thomas being youthfull, rash, and headlong, and assuring himselfe that the knot of all the force of Ireland was twisted vnder his girdle, was by de la Hide his counsell so far caried, as he was resolued to east all on six and seauen. Wherefore hauing confedered with Oneale, Oconor, and other Irish potentats, he rode on saint Barnabies daie, accompanied with seauen score horssemen in their shirts of maile, through the citie of Dublin, to the Dam his gate, crost oner the water to saint Marie abbeie, where the councell according to appointment waited his comming, not being priuie to his intent: onelie Cromer the lord chancellour excepted, who was secretlie aduertised of his reuolt, and therefore was verie well prouided for him, as héereafter shall be declared. This Cromer was a graue Cromer lord chancellor. prelat, and a learned, well spoken, mild of nature, nothing wedded to factions, yet a welwiller of the Giraldines, as those by whose means he was aduanced to dignitie. When the lord Thomas was set in councell, his horssemen and seruants rusht into the councell chamber armed and weaponed, turning their secret conference to an open parlée. The councell hereat amazed, and silence with securitie commanded, the lord Thomas in this wise spake.

Thomas Fitzgirald his rebellious oration. “HOWSOEVER iniuriouslie we be handled, and forced to defend our selues in armes, when neither our seruice nor our good meaning towards our prince his crowne auaileth: yet saie not héereafter, but in this open hostilitie which héere we professe and proclame, we haue shewed our selues no villaines nor churles, but warriours and gentlemen. This sword of estate is yours, and not mine; I receiued it with an oth, and haue vsed it to your benefit. I should staine mine honour, if I turned the same to your annoiance. Now haue I need of mine owne sword, which I dare trust. As for the common sword, it flattereth me with a painted scabberd, but hath indéed a pestilent edge, alreadie bathed in the Giraldines bloud, and now is newlie whetted in hope of a further destruction. Therefore saue your selues from vs, as from open enimies, I am none of Henrie his deputie, I am his fo, I haue more mind to conquer than to gouerne, to meet him in the field than to serue him in office. If all the hearts of England and Ireland, that haue cause thereto, would ioine in this quarrell (as I hope they will) then should he soone abie (as I trust he shall) for his crueltie and tyrannie, for which the age to come may lawfullie score him vp among the ancient tyrants of most abhominable and hatefull memorie.”

Hauing added to this shamefull oration manie other slanderous and foule tearmes, which for diuerse respects I spare to pen, he would haue surrendered the sword to the lord chancellor, who (as I said before) being armed for the lord Thomas his comming, and also being loath that his slacknesse should séeme disloiall in refusing the sword, or his frowardnesse ouer cruell in snatching it vpon the first proffer, tooke the lord Thomas by the wrist of the hand, and requested him for the loue of God, the teares trilling downe his cheékes, to giue him for two or thrée words the hearing, which granted, the reuerend father spake as insueth.

The chancellor his oration. “MY lord, although hatred be commonlie the handmaiden of truth, bicause we sée him that plainelie expresseth his mind, to be for the more part of most men disliked: yet notwithstanding I am so well assured of your lordship his good inclination towards me, and your lordship so certeine of mine entire affection towards you, as I am imboldned, notwithstanding this companie of armed men, fréelie and frankelie to vtter that, which by me declared, and by your lordship followed, will turne (God willing) to the auaile of you, your friends, alies, and this countrie. I doubt not (my lord) but you know, that it is wisedome for anie man to looke before he leape, and to sowne the water before his ship hull thereon, & namelie where the matter is of weight, there it behooueth to follow sound, sage, and mature aduise. Wherefore (my lord) sith it is no maigame for a subiect to leuie an armie against his prince: it lieth your lordship in hand to breath longer on the matter, as well by forecasting the hurt whereby you may fall, as by reuoluing the hope wherwith you are fed. What should mooue your lordship to this sudden attempt, I know not. If it be the death of your father, it is as yet but secretlie muttered, not manifestlie published. And if I should grant you, that your zeale in reuenging your father his execution were in some respect to be commended: yet reason would you should suspend the reuenge vntill the certeintie were knowne. And were it, that the report The subiects dutie towards his king. were true, yet it standeth with the dutie and allegiance of a good subiect (from whom I hope in God you meane not to disseuer your selfe) not to spurne and kicke against his prince, but contrariwise, if his souereigne be mightie, to feare him: if he be profitable to his subiects, to honour him: if he command, to obeie him: if he be kind, to loue him: if he be vicious, to pitie him: if he be a tyrant, to beare with him: considering that in such case it is better with patience to bow, than with stubburnnesse to breake. For sacred is the name of a king, and odious is the The name of a king sacred. Rebellion from whense it springeth. name of a rebellion: the one from heauen deriued, and by God shielded; the other in hell forged, and by the diuell executed. And therefore who so will obserue the course of histories, or weigh the iustice of God in punishing malefactors, shall easilie sée, that albeit the sunne shineth for a time on them that are in rebellion: yet such swéet beginnings are at length clasped vp with sharpe & sowre ends. ”

“Now that it appeareth, that you ought not to beare armour against your king, it resteth to discusse whether you be able (though you were willing) to annoie your king. For if among meane and priuat foes it be reckoned for folie, in a secret grudge to professe open hatred, and where he is not able to hinder, there to shew a willing mind to hurt: much more ought your lordship in so generall a quarell as this, that concerneth the king, that toucheth the nobilitie, that apperteineth to the whole commonwealth, to foresée the king his power on the one side, & your force on the other, and then to iudge if you be able to cocke with him, and to put him beside the cushion; and not whilest you striue to sit in the saddle, to lose to your owne vndoing both the horsse and the saddle.”

“King Henrie is knowne to be in these our daies so puissant a priuce, and so victorious a worthie, that he is able to conquer forren dominions: and thinke you that he cannot defend his owne? He tameth kings, and iudge you that he may not rule his owne subiects? Suppose you conquer the land, doo you imagine that he will not recouer it? Therefore (my lord) flatter not your selfe ouermuch, repose not so great affiance either in your troope of horssemen, or in your band of footmen, or in the multitude of your partakers. What face soeuer they put now on the matter, or what successe soeuer for a season they haue, bicause it is easie for an armie to vanquish them that doo not resist: yet hereafter when the king shall send his power into this countrie, you shall see your adheaents like slipper changelings pluehe in their hornes, and such as were content to beare you vp by the chin as long as you could swim, when they espie you sinke, they will by little and little shrinke from you, and percase will ducke you ouer head and eares. As long as the gale puffeth full in your sailes, doubt not but diuerse will anerre vnto you and féed on you as crowes on carion: but if anie storme happen to bluster, then will they be sure to leaue you post alone sticking in the mire or sands, hauing least helpe when you haue most néed. And what will then insue of this. The branches will be pardoned, the root apprehended, your honour distained, your house atteinted, your armes reuersed, your manours razed, your doings examined; at which time God knoweth what an hartburning it will be, when that with no colour may be denied, which without shame cannot be confessed. My lord, I powre not out oracles as a soothsaier, for I am neither a prophet, nor the sonne of a prophet. But it may be, that I am some frantike Cassandra being partener of Cassandras prophesie. hir spirit in foretelling the truth, and partaker of hir misfortune in that I am not (when I tell the truth) beléeued of your lordship, whom God defend from being Priamus.”

“Weigh therefore (my lord) the nobilitie of your ancestors, remember your father his late exhortation, forget not your dutie vnto your prince, consider the estate of this poore countrie, with what heaps of cursses you shall be loden, when your souldiers shall rifle the poore subiects, & so far indamage the whole relme, as they are not yet borne that shall hereafter féele the smart of this vprore. You haue not gone so far but you may turne home, the king is mercifull, your offense as yet not ouer heinous, cleaue to his clemencie, abandon this headlong follie. Which I crane in most humble wise of your lordship, for the loue of God, for the dutie you owe your prince, for the affection you beare the countrie, and for the respect you haue to your owne safetie, whom God defend from all traitorous & wicked attempts.”

Hauing ended his oration, which he set foorth with such a lamentable action, as his chéekes were all beblubbered with feares, the horssemen, namelie such as vnder stood not English, began to diuine what the lord chancellor ment with all this long circumstance; some of them reporting that be was preaching a sermon, others said that he stood making of some heroicall poetrie in the praise of the lord Thomas. And thus as euerie idiot shot his foolish bolt at the wise chancellor his discourse, who in effect did nought else but drop pretious stones before hogs, one Bard de Nelan, an Bard de Nelan. Irish rithmour, and a rotten shéepe able to infect an whole flocke, was chatting of Irish verses, as though his toong had run on pattens, in commendation of the lord Thomas, inuesting him with the title of Silken Thomas, bicause his horssemens Silken Thomas. iacks were gorgeouslie imbrodered with silke: and in the end he told him that he lingred there ouerlong. Whereat the lord Thomas being quickned, did cast his eie towards the lord chancellor, & said thus.

The replie of Silken Thomas. “MY lord chancellor, I come not hither to take aduise what I should doo, but to giue you to vnderstand what I mind to doo. It is easie for the sound to counsell the sicke: but if the sore had smarted you as much as it festereth me, you would be percase as impatient as I am. As you would wish me to honour my prince, so dutie willeth me to reuerence my father. Wherefore he that will with such tyrannie execute mine innocent parent, and withall threaten my destruction, I may not, nor will not hold him for my king. And yet in truth he was neuer our king, but our lord, as Henrie lord of Ireland. his progenitors haue beene before him. But if it be my hap to miscarie, as you séeme to prognosticat, catch that catch may, I will take the market as it riseth, and will choose rather to die with valiantnesse and libertie, than to liue vnder king Henrie in bondage and villauie. And yet it may be, that as strong as he is, and as weake as I am, I shall be able like a fleshworme to itch the bodie of his kingdome, and force him to scratch déepelie before he be able to pike me out of my seame. Wherefore my lord, I tkanke you for your good counsell, and were it not that I am too crabbed a note in descant to be now tuned, it might be that I would haue warbled swéeter harmonie than at this instant I meane to sing.” ¶ With these words Thomas rendereth vp the sword. he rendered vp the sword, and flung awaie like a bedlem, being garded with his brutish droue of brainesicke rebels.

The conncell sent secretlie vpon his departue to master maior and his brethren, to apprehend (if they conuenientlie might) Thomas Fitzgirald and his confederats. But the warning was so Skarborrow, the enimie so strong, the citie (by reason of the plage that ranged in towne and in countrie) so dispeopled, as their attempt therein would seeme but vaine and friuolous. Ouer this, the weaker part of the rebels would not pen vp themselues within the citie wals, but stood houering aloofe off toward Ostmantowne gréene, on the top of the hill where the gallowes stood (a fit centre for such a circle) till time they were aduertised of their capteine Thomas his returne. This open rebellion in this wise denounced; part of the councell, namelie Alen archbishop of Dublin & Finglasse chiefe baron hied with bag and baggage Alen. Finglasse. Iohn Walter. to the castell of Dublin, whereof Iohn White was constable, who after was dubbed knight by the king in England, for his worthie seruice doone in that vprore.

Thomas & his crew, supposing that in ouerruning the whole land, they should find no blocke to stumble at sauing the earle of Ossorie, agreed to trie if by anie allurements he could be traind to their confederacie. And forsomuch as the lord Iames Butler was linked with Thomas Fitzgirald in great amitie and friendship, it was thought best to giue him the onset, who if he were woon to swaie with them, they would not weigh two chips the force of his father the earle of Ossorie. Thomas foorthwith sent his messengers and letters to his cousine the lord Butler, couenanting to diuide with him halfe the kingdome, would he associat him in this enterprise. Wherevpon the lord Butler returned Thomas his brokers with this letter.

The lord Butler his letter to Thomas Fitzgirald. “TAKING pen in hand to write you my resolute answer, I muse in the verie first line by what name to call you, my lord, or my cousine: séeing your notorious treason hath distained your honour, and your desperate lewdnesse shamed your kindred. You are so liberall in parting stakes with me, that a man would wéene you had no right vnto the game: so importunat in crauing my companie, as if you would persuade me to hang with you for good fellowship. Doo you thinke that Iames was so mad, as to gape for gogions; or so vngratious, as so sell his truth for a péece of Ireland? Were it so (as it cannot be) that the chickens you reckon, were both hatched and feathered: yet be thou sure, I had rather in this quarell die thine enimie, than liue thy partener. For the kindnesse you proffer me, and good loue in the end of your letter, the best waie I can I purpose to requite, that is, in aduising you, though you haue fetcht your feare, yet to looke well yer ye leape. Ignorance and errour, with a certeine opinion of dutie, haue caried you vnawares to this follie, not yet so ranke but it maie be cured. The king is a vessell of bountie & mercie, your words against his maiestie shall not be accounted malicious, but rather belehed out for heat and impotencie, except your selfe by heaping offenses discouer a mischeefous and wilfull meaning. Farewell.”

Thomas Fitzgirald netled with this round answer, was determined to inuade the countrie of Kilkennie, first forcing an oth vpon the gentlemen of the pale: and such as would not agree thereto he tooke prisoners. Fingall, which was not before acquainted Fingall spoiled. with the recourse of the Irish enimie, was left open to be preided and spoiled by the Tooles, who were therein assisted by Iohn Burnell of Balgriffin, a Iohn Burnel of Belgriffin. gentléman of a faire liuing, setled in a good battle soile of Fingall, taken for one not deuoid of wit, were it not that he was ouertaken with this treason. The Dublinians hauing notice that the enimie made hauocke of their neighbors of Fingall, issued out of the citie, meaning to haue intercepted them at the bridge of Kilmainan. And hauing incountered with the Irish néere the wood Salcocke, what for the number of the rebels, and the lacke of an expert capteine to lead the armie of Dublin in The Dublinians discomfited. battell raie, there were fourescore of the citizens slaine, and the preide not rescued. In this conflict, Patrike Fitzsimons, with diuerse other good housholders, Patrike Fitzsimons slaine. miscaried.

This victorie bred so great an insolencie in Thomas Fitzgirald, as he sent his messengers Messengers sent from Thomas to Dublin. to the citie, declaring that albeit they offred him that iniurie, as that he could not haue frée passage with his companie to & fro in the pale, & therefore would he vse the benefit of his late skirmish, or be answerable in iust reuenge to their due desert, he might by law of armes put their citie to fire and sword: yet this notwithstanding, if they would but permit his men to laie siege to the castell of Dublin, he would enter in league with them, and would vndertake to backe them in such fauourable wise, as the stoutest champion in his armie should not be so hardie, as to offer the basest in their citie so much as a fillip. The citizens considering that the towne by reason of the sickenesse was weakened, and by this late ouerthrow greatlie discouraged, were forced to make a vertue of necessitle, by lighting a candle before the diuell, till time the kings pleasure were knowne; to whom with letters they posted one of their aldermen named Francis Herbert, whom shortlie after, the king for his seruice Francis Herbert sent into England. Eustace of Balicutlan. dubbed knight, infeoffing him with part of Christopher Eustace of Balicutlau his lands, who had vnaduisedlie a foot in this rebellion. But before the citizens would returne answer to Thomas as touching this message, they secretlie eduertised maister Iohn White conestable of the castell of this vnlawfull demand.

The conestable weighing the securitie of the citie, little regarding the force of the emiuie, agreed willinglie therto, so that he might be sufficientlie stored with men and vittels. Iohn Alen archbishop of Dublin, fearing that all would haue gone The archbishop of Dublin meaneth to saile into England. Bartholomew Fitzgirald. to wracke in Ireland, being then in the castell, brake his mind touching his sailing into England, to one of his seruants named Bartholomew Fitzgirald, whom notwithstanding he were a Giraldine, he held for his trustiest and inwardest councellor Bartholomew vndertaking to be the archbishop his pilot, vntill hée were past the barre, incouraged his maister to imbarke himselfe hard by the Dams gate. And as they were hulling in the channell that euening, they were not warie, vntill the barke strake on the sands néere Clontarfe.

The archbishop with his man stale secretlie to Tartaine, there meaning to lurke vntill the wind had serued to saile into England, where he searselie six houres soiourned, when Thomas Fitzgirald knew of his arriuall, and accompanied with Iames de la Hide, sir Iohn Fitzgirald, Oliuer Fitzgirald his vncles, timelie in the morning, being the eight and twentith of Iulie, he posted to Tartaine, beset the house, commanded Iohn Teling and Nicholas Waffer to apprehend the archbishop, 1534 Teling. Waffer. whome they haled out of his bed, brought him naked in his shirt, barefooted, and bareheaded, to their capteine. Whom when the archbishop espied, incontinentlie he knéeled and with a pitifull countenance & lamentable voice, he besought him for the loue of God not to remember former iniuries, but to weigh his present calamitie, and what malice soeuer he bare his person, yet to respect his calling and vocation, in that his enimie was a christian, and he amongst christians an archbishop.

As he spake thus, bequeathing his soule to God, his bodie to the enimies mercie, Thomas being stricken with some compassion, & withall inflamed with desire of reuenge, turned his horsse aside, saieng in Irish (Bir wem è boddeagh) which is as much to saie in English, as Away with the churle, or Take the churle from me: which doubtles he spake, as after he declared, meaning the archbishop should be deteined as prisoner. But the caitifs that were present, rather of malice than of ignorance, misconstruing his words, murthered the archbishop without further delaie, Alen archbishop of Dublin murthered at Tartaine. brained and hacked him in gobbets, his bloud with Abell crieng to God for reuenge, which after befell to all such as were principals in this horrible murther. The placeis euer since hedged and imbaied on euerie side, ouergrowne and vnfrequented for detestation of the fact. This Alen (as before is declared) was in seruice with cardinall Woolseie, of deepe iugement in the law canon, the onelie match of Stephan Gardiner, an other of Woolseies chaapleins, for anoiding of which enmlation he was preferred in Ireland, rough and rigorous in iustice, deadlie bated of the Giraldines for his maisters sake & his owne, as that he crossed them diuerse times, and much brideled both father and son in their gouernements, not vnlike to haue promoted their accusations, and to haue béene a forger of the letter before mentioned, which turned to his finall destruction.